HUTCHINS, Caroline Osborn - Putnam

AGED WOMAN OF ROACHDALE DIES; ILL FIVE YEARS

Mrs. Carolyn Osborn Hutchins, age 80, died at her home hear Roachdale Sunday morning at 7:25 o’clock. The cause of the death was given as complications. She had been in failing health for the past five and one-half years.

Mrs. Hutchins, a lifelong resident of this community, was born Dec. 21, 1863, in Franklin Township, the daughter of John J. and Jane Pearcy Osborn. She was married to Lincoln Hutchins June 14, 1883. Mr. Hutchins preceded her in death several years ago.

Mrs. Hutchins was a member of the Roachdale Presbyterian church and the Roachdale Home Economics Club.

The survivors include two daughters, Miss Ruth, at home, and Mrs. Lenore Sillery of near Roachdale; four sons, George of Crawfordsville, Harold of New York City, Osborn and Eugene of Roachdale; one sister, Josephine of Indianapolis; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Roachdale Presbyterian church, with Rev. O. J. McMullen in charge.

Burial was made in the Roachdale cemetery. 1

On 21 December, 1863, Carolyn Belle was born to John J. and Jane Pearcy Osborn. She was the fourth in a family of five children born and reared on the farm near Carpentersville. As a child her life was that of her family, the simple games of children and the simple tasks suited to her age. There was the land which could be ordered and made to bloom; there was the Bible to be read and understood; there was the Presbyterian Church for the community sharing of service and understanding which bring wisdom. From birth she lived in service to love of family and love of God. They were her life.

On 14 June, 1883, not yet twenty, she married Clarence Lincoln Hutchins and, almost immediately, went to live on the farm where she was born. Here she bore eight children, six of whom survive. If a child lived the short number of days to feel the security of her love, it would grow in health and strength. The lacKnights of Pythiasresent conveniences she met in her own toil, yet she was never too tired or too busy to comfort a childish bruise of mind or body or to bring her peace and strength to others troubled and afflicted. She believed that people were good, that one should remember good and speak often of people’s good actions. On Sunday mornings she was at Sunday School and Church with her family. Then she was surrounded by her children, later her grandchildren, and finally her great grandchildren, to do for them “those nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love. ” None of them has once heard her raise her voice in fretful complaint or temper in all the years. She lived in happiness, doing what she wanted to do. Now, after eighty years, seven months, and nine days, she is always at peace and finally at rest. She is survived by one sister, six children, ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She too can say,

And So beside the silent sea

I Wait the muffled oar.

No Harm can come to him or them,

On Ocean or on shore.

I Know not where his islands

Lift their fronded palms in air;

I Only know I cannot drift

Beyond his tender love and care.

Source: Roachdale Times-News 27 July 1944